World class infra remains unutilized since Nov 2023
*Request For Proposal to invite bids yet to be finalized
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 9: World class infrastructure created at Mantalai under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) by spending several crores of rupees has remained unutilized since November 2023 mainly because of inordinate delay in outsourcing of assets. This exercise will take few more months as Request for Proposal to invite bids is yet to be finalized.
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The project was sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Government of India in order to carry forward the Himalayan Yoga and spiritual knowledge besides attracting domestic and foreign tourists. The work on all its components was completed by National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) through Patel Engineering in September-October 2023.
In the month of November 2023, the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) took over the assets from the company after completion of all the necessary formalities and thereafter a private security agency was engaged to ensure watch and ward of the world class infrastructure.
“Following a decision of the Government, the task of outsourcing of all the assets created at Mantalai was assigned to a committee of officers. However, till date no major headway has been made on the same as a result of which entire infrastructure remains unutilized”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
They informed that Transaction Advisor appointed for preparation of Request For Proposal (a document that will be used to invite bids from vendors for the project) submitted a draft to the committee of officers. However, certain changes were suggested by the officers and now the draft Request For Proposal will be modified accordingly.
“Few months time has been given to the Transaction Advisor for this task and thereafter, if approved by the committee, the Request For Proposal will be used to invite bids which will also take time. In such a situation no time-frame can be specified for completion of outsourcing of assets exercise and till then the infrastructure will continue to remain unutilized”, sources further said.
When contacted, an officer, who is member of the committee, said, “no major headway has been made on outsourcing of assets created at Mantalai”. He, however, preferred not to share other details.
The assets created by spending crores of rupees are Yoga Centre with associated infrastructure, equipment and counseling rooms; Wellness Spa and Ayurveda Complex with separate area for traditional Indian spa therapies with library and archiving centre; Tourist Facilitation Centre with exhibition space; eco-log huts with solariums on south west side integrated into the cottage design; eco-park with herbal garden and poly houses; meditation enclave in apple orchard; heliport with ambulance shed; open air amphitheatre with green rooms; rainwater harvesting and associated water bodies; sewage treatment plant and water purification plant etc.
The Tourist Facilitation Centre consists of counseling rooms, money exchange point, conference hall and museum while as Yoga Centre is having exhibition space, meditation hall, meditation pods, dining centre and solid waste management plant and it has been conceptualized to practice and propagate Yoga in the lap of nature.
The Wellness Spa and Ayurveda Complex with separate area for traditional Indian Spa Therapies consist of six floors and other allied infrastructure. The poly houses at Mantalai are having naturally ventilated climate control for growing of vegetables, floriculture and fruit crop. Moreover, open air amphitheatre with green rooms and tensile roofing, walking and jogging track, mood lighting, children activity zone and fountains have been created as part of the project.
For the mobility of the visitors within the complex spread over 450 kanals of land, battery cars will be operated with informational, directional and ecological Dos and Don’ts signage at different places.
About the existing infrastructure built by Swami Dhirendra Brahmchari, who developed the place as a Spiritual, Yoga and Meditation Centre in the relaxed environment and named it as Aparna Ashram, sources said, “since huge cost is involved in the repair of this infrastructure the Government has decided to outsource it on as and where basis”.
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